Barbara Yaffe: B.C.’s attitude toward Royal Family slowly changing

Barbara Yaffe, Vancouver Sun columnist05.13.2013

Left to right: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the finale of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations on June 5, 2012 in London. While Charles is next in line to the throne in the event of the Queen's death, most British Columbians in a recent public opinion poll would rather see his eldest son, Wiliiam, ascend to the throne.

Constitution be damned. If British Columbians were to swear an oath to a royal head of state, they would want him to be William.

According to a new Angus Reid poll, half of British Columbian want Diana’s oldest son to become king once the Queen, now 87, dies.

Too bad. Because it is Charles who is next in line to be Britain’s numero uno, and hence Canada’s head of state. And by all accounts, he is keen to have the job.

The 64-year-old royal remarked on the matter of his accession last November, telling a British reporter: “Impatient, me? What a thing to suggest.

“Of course, I am. I’ll run out of time soon. I’ll have snuffed it if I’m not careful.”

On his website, Charles takes pains to note, in a response to “Frequently Asked Questions,” that, when the time comes, his wife Camilla would not become Queen Consort.

“As we explained at the time of the wedding in April 2005, it is intended that The Duchess will be known as HRH The Princess Consort ...”

Camilla, of course, is a divorcee and has some nasty baggage as Charles’ mistress during his marriage to Diana.

Other questions on the site hint at Charles’ own shaky public image. One asks whether allegations are true that he has seven boiled eggs cooked up for his breakfast but eats only one. (Not true, he insists.)

Another inquiry concerns his staff — 161 are employed by his Household, 135 of which support “Their Royal Highnesses” Charles and Camilla, William and Kate, and Harry.

As for the Bentley that Charles rides around in, the vehicle belongs to London’s Metropolitan Police.

Whatever. Only 22 per cent of B.C. poll respondents say they want Charles to succeed his mother — a succession that may not come any time soon since Elizabeth’s own mother lived to 102.

Meanwhile, 41 per cent of British Columbians would support a national debate around replacing the monarch with a head of state elected by Canadians.

The findings are not unlike percentages found across Canada.

Traditionally, British Columbians have stood out in Canada as among the staunchest supporters of royalty.

B.C.’s capital, Victoria, in particular, exhibits a British flair, with tea rooms and antique shops and many tourists sites that start with the designation “Royal”.

But times are changing, as is the ethnic makeup of B.C.’s population. It appears, increasingly, people here are born abroad and open to change.

One third of B.C. poll respondents reported being in favour of Canada remaining a monarchy, while an equal percentage prefer an elected head of state. The final third either don’t care or aren’t sure.

Which suggests a degree of apathy about the royals.

Canada’s Governors-General have worked hard of late to make themselves more relevant to Canadians, who increasingly view the royals as celebrity figures more than anything else.

And if that is how they are seen, it should be no surprise that William and his wife Kate would have more celebrity appeal than Charles and Camilla.

But as things stand, while many are prepared to discuss a change in Canada’s arrangements around a head of state, Stephen Harper is a monarchy booster, and most other politicians don’t feel the issue is pressing enough to take up politically.

That could change. Retired Hamilton engineer and lumber merchant Carl Turkstra is working on a public campaign that would aim to stir interest in terminating the monarchy’s role in Canada.

Tentative names for a campaign, also supported by former Canadian diplomat Paul Heinbecker, are: Grow Up Canada, No More Monarchy, or It’s Time for Change.

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